LOS ANGELES — For the second time in three years, the Los Angeles Kings are Stanley Cup champions.

The Kings beat the New York Rangers, 3-2, tonight in a wildly entertaining, painfully tense Game 5 at Staples Center that went to double overtime and finally ended on an Alec Martinez goal after 94:43 of total action.

Unlike the 2012 Kings who romped to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history while losing just four times, it took the 2014 version 26 games to get it done, tying them with the 1987 Flyers and 2004 Flames for the most contests in one postseason. Along the way, the Kings erased a 3-0 series deficit versus the San Jose Sharks, took out their crosstown rivals from Anaheim after trailing 3-2, and eliminated the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks in a memorable seven-game series that went to overtime in the decider.

Lundqvist was brilliant once again for the Rangers, stopping 48 shots. He entered tonight’s must-win with a 1.00 goals-against average and .971 save percentage in the five elimination contests the Rangers had played this postseason, allowing just one goal in each game. He was the major reason the Kings didn’t end things in Game 4. But he couldn’t rescue his team again tonight.

The Kings got the start they’d been looking for, as Williams opened the scoring at 6:04 of the first period, before the Rangers had even managed their first shot on goal. Williams, renowned for scoring big goals in the playoffs, slid a loose puck past Lundqvist on a play that started with a Willie Mitchell point shot. Dwight King and Jarret Stoll also had rebound chances in front, drawing three Rangers to two Kings, before Williams, left open, pounced.

The Rangers may not have started well, but they fought back valiantly in the second period, scoring two late goals that left the crowd in a temporary state of shock.

First came Kreider on the power play, one-timing a flawless pass from McDonagh to tie it at 15:37. The goal was just the second power-play marker of the series for the Rangers, who had gone 1-for-19 with the man advantage before Kreider scored.

Then, with the Kings on the power play, speedy forward Carl Hagelin beat Voynov to a loose puck along the boards in the neutral zone. Hagelin got it to big Brian Boyle, who beat a weary Drew Doughty wide, before firing a perfect shot over Quick’s left shoulder to put the Rangers up 2-1 with 30 seconds left in the middle frame.

All of a sudden, a trip back to Madison Square Garden for Game 6 became a very real possibility.

The Kings started the third period uncertainly; however, a controversial tripping penalty to Zuccarello came at 7:39, opening the door for Marian Gaborik to poke a rebound between Lundqvist’s legs at 7:56, after the Rangers’ star goalie failed to control a point shot from Doughty.

Los Angeles nearly scored again late in the third – Carter ripped one high from the slot with five minutes left, and Jake Muzzin had a one-timer go wide with mere seconds remaining – but regulation time expired with the score tied, bringing on overtime for the third time in the series.

The Kings once again hoisted the Cup at home, just as they did in 2012. The five other championships won in the last seven years were clinched by road teams.

For the Rangers, there’s bitter disappointment after coming so very close to forcing Game 6 Monday at Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers would have had a chance to force an anything-can-happen Game 7 back in Los Angeles.

Congrats Kings and their fans . Tough series , much harder than the 4-1 looks .it was a great season by the Rangers, and I thoroughly enjoyed the year and wonderful playoff ride .
Enjoy LA – you earned it.

Wish the Rangers could have pulled out at least one OT win so the series could have lasted longer. Proud of my Rangers and nothing but respect for the Kings…they’re a great team and they play hockey the way it should be played.

I think I aged 10 years just watching this playoff run. Can’t imagine how the players feel.

chanceoffleury - Jun 14, 2014 at 1:11 AM

Depends a lot on which players you’re referring to. Because depending on which side you’re talking about, I imagine their feelings right now could only be measured on vastly different scales…..

stakex - Jun 14, 2014 at 12:52 AM

Well, I could sit here and write an angry post about the officiating of this series and how the outcome might have been very different had it been better…. but this isn’t the time nor the place for it.

I mean the man has a point, as an outsider looking in, the penalty that caused the game tying goal was garbage. It just makes the NHL look bad when it comes to their championship game. There was no doubt in my mind L.A. deserved to win this series, but not like that.

geauxshawx - Jun 14, 2014 at 8:45 PM

Seriously? The “non-call” resulted in tying the game! Where were the Rangers after that. And don’t say took momentum away. They’re pros, and to get to finals, had to play against adversity! Sooo, what’s your excuse for the other two games? Sun got in their eyes?

Congratulations to the Rangers on a fine season and a great playoff run, and a 4-1 margin doesn’t do them enough credit for the effort they put in. They could have quit down three games to none, or after the first period goal, but they never quit – they made the Kings beat them and you learn as much about teams in how they lose as you do in how they win.

1cupin74years - Jun 14, 2014 at 1:03 AM

You know…it’s not that big of a deal. As one d**bag Rags fan always says, the only game the ever mattered in hockey is the Rags beating the Caps 5 to 0 in game 7 of the quarterfinals in 2013. No need for a Cup when you can beat the Caps like that. Quarterfinals, it doesn’t get any deeper than that. Celebrate it Rags fans. Nothing else matters.Cup? No, no, no, you beat the Caps in the Quarterfinals last year. End. Of Story. No need to win a Cup at that point. Glory has already been achieved.

No. Three bad breaks was not the difference in winning and losing a cup. Dropping leads by sitting back and trying to protect the lead is what lost them the cup. Taking risks when it was unwarranted and constantly forechecking and not back checking hard enough is what lost them the cup. Not having the same depth and beart, and experience of the kings is what lost them the cup. A team that can’t overcome a couple of bad calls is not a team that deserves to win the cup. And just to point out… The Rangers were diving worse than Montreal at many points in this series and won some calls that were just as wrong if not more so than ANY penalties that went the kings way. Stop pouting and congratulate the MUCH better team who won the cup fair and square.

stevemackenzie58 - Jun 16, 2014 at 3:38 PM

Mackattack29. You are right on the money. There were a lot more reasons the Rangers lost but I will let your words stand.

chanceoffleury - Jun 14, 2014 at 1:07 AM

Must be nice to have an organization that knows how to perfectly fill it’s voids at the deadline. Can’t say I remember what that feels like. Anyway, congrats to the Kings! 5 OTs made it feel longer than 5 games. Kings and Hawks rivalry is gonna be fun to watch over the next couple years. Both are young and hungry for more!

And props to the Rangers depth guys. They were just as influential in the Rangers getting as far as they did as Lundqvist was. Hard to win a cup (or an overtime) when you’ve got a handful of guys who want to make the big bucks but aren’t taking control of the game. They weren’t horrible, but Hank and the depth guys deserved better. Valiant effort for most of those guys’ first cup appearance and it wasn’t reflected in the final wins column.

1cupin74years - Jun 14, 2014 at 1:07 AM

GO KINGS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1cupin74years - Jun 14, 2014 at 1:10 AM

On behalf of all meat-head d**bag NYR fans, GO KINGS GO!!! Rangers don’t need a Cup. They owned the Caps in a quarterfinal game last year. What else could you possibly want?

In no way, whatsoever, do I mean to pat myself on the back for picking the Kings in 5, but this series really was one of the tightest I’ve seen in awhile. I mean LA is clearly superior to almost the entire NHL, but the Rangers put up an absolutely admirable effort (thru the entire playoffs). This series made the Devils-Kings Final look like a joke (eventhough it went one more game). New York was with the Kings the entire time, they just didn’t get the right bounces. The hockey gods smiled on LA but I truly believe the Rangers proved they deserved their spot. They just couldn’t overcome the playoff superiority of Quick, Carter, Doughty, Kopitar, Gaborik, Martinez, Brown, and especially Justin Williams… way too clutch and far too complete, top to bottom.

A salute to both Los Angeles and New York… now bring on the draft in Philly!

Anyone who thinks that this series would’ve been different because of 2 tough calls going against the Rangers is living in a fantasy land. The Kings were the better team. They could’ve gotten zero powerplays in the whole finals and still would’ve won. Would it have gone 6 games instead of five? Maybe. But the end of this series was always going to be the kings raising the cup. The Rangers are a phenomenal team and they are a strong contender. But the kings and the Hawks are the two major dynasty-like teams in the league right now. The final of these playoffs was truly the western conference finals. Because whomever won that series was going to win the cup. So stop complaining Rangers fans. It just gives your organization a bad rep if all you do is whine and not give credit where it’s due. Congrats to all kings fans and their organization. You’re the best in the league and really the best in the world this year.

It is true that for some reason the ice in the upper north east part of the states was worse than the boiling hot southwest part of the U.S…. lol very peculiar I will admit. But it could’ve worked against the Rangers just as easily as it worked against the kings.

Keep in mind if the referees weren’t getting blown by the Kings, the Rangers would have won. The Kings have invited the officials from the series to the parade as the “Guests of Honor!” Extremely questionable calls kept the black and white team (see the relationship with the stripes?) In games they had no chance of winning.

Absolutely speechless right now, just gonna let thisbaink in for a while. Kings of the NHL once again. It’s been one hell of a ride!!

luvusa1 - Jun 14, 2014 at 2:02 AM

@Canucks30: what is your fascination with the Flyers idiot! Flyers never would have one the Cup with Richards and Carter. They were nice complimentary pieces and didn’t have to be the stars and have that pressure. Again, Carter was traded to Columbus and then the Kings whining his way out of there – try to keep up. Flyers gained some great young talent and will contend and win the Cup. Freakin Blomfield.

I was expecting the Kings to win in 5 or 6 games. But that was not a 5 games series. The Rangers gave the Kings everything and more. To lose 3 games in OT has to be heartbreaking. I’m sure Rick Nash is going to have nightmares for a while after having his shot blocked in OT by Slava Voynov. That was going into the middle of the net.

What an LA team though. To start off by losing 3 games in a row to San Jose. And then losing another 3 games in a row to Anaheim. I doubt that’s ever happened before where a team has 2 3 game losing streaks on their way to winning the Cup.

As a Kings fan I am happy and humbled to be fortunate to win the toughest 16 playoff games in major professional sports. To win 3 game 7’s on the road and win 4 straight OT games including 3 in the Stanley Cup final was an unbelievable run with a good share of “puck luck”. No reason to disparage the other teams the Kings beat on their way to the cup and only give praise to a gritty and determined Kings team winning their 2nd cup in 3 years.